PMDU - Team Shard - Cactus Fields Explorers Tasks

“What do you mean I'm not going to help rescue the merchants?!”

Evan pointed to his partner, then to the sun, then gestured toward the desert.  “Ice-type, hot sun, and desert.  Do I really need to explain this?”

Kate folded her arms in front of her.  “I'm not going to melt!  Besides, I'm more Dark than Ice.”

Evan looked at his partner.  “You're sweating.”

“So are you!”

“Not nearly as much as you.”

Kate sighed.  “Alright, it is a bit warm.....”

Evan shook his head.  “I'm not trying to sound mean or anything.  I just don't want to risk you getting hurt because of exhaustion.  Considering where we're heading, you could end up collapsing into a ravine.”

His partner rubbed the back of her head.  “I guess you have a point.”

Evan put a hand on her shoulder.  “Hey, at least by manning the info booth, you may find someone else to use that recruitment slip for.”

Kate gave him a surprised look.  “I.....I honestly didn't expect to hear that from you.”

Evan's initial surprise at the remark quickly faded.  “Look, I am a bit worried about adding another member to the team, especially considering our......situation.”

The Sneasel gave him a warm smile.  “Evan, I'm not about to go around asking Pokémon to join our team.  When I heard we could get a Recruitment Slip, I figured we could get it in case someone wanted to join on their own.”

Evan thought about it for a moment.  “I think I'd like that better.”

Kate nodded.  “I thought you might.  Well, you'd better get going.  You don't want to keep Gavina waiting.”

“Alright.  I'll see you later.”  Evan turned to leave, but was stopped when Kate hugged him from behind.

“Be careful, Evan.”

The Zangoose returned the gesture.  “Don't worry, I will.”

-

Evan was silent as the group headed toward the last known location of the merchants.  The herd of Camerupt and Numel they were with seemed to know a good deal about the surrounding landscape, which meant he had to pay attention to where they trod.  Their leader, Hathor, had been keen to warn them that they would die if they didn't follow her instructions.  So that's precisely what Evan did.

He was glad he had asked Kate to stay behind.  The desert heat had gotten more intense, which was to be expected.  If she had come with them, she may have ended up needing to be carried.

“...help...”

Evan froze in his tracks.  Oh no, not now.....

“...hey!  Help!...”

The Zangoose turned to where he thought the voice was coming from.  It was so quiet, he couldn't tell if it was even real.  There was only one way to find out.  He slowly walked toward a ravine in the direction of the voice, alert for another cry.

“Help me!”

That time it was loud and clear.  Evan hurried toward the edge of the ravine.  “Hey!  Someone over there?”  He peered over the edge.

A Seedot stared back at him.  

The ledge suddenly gave way, sending him plummeting into the ravine.

-

Kate let out an exasperated sigh.  Something in the back of the Sneasel's head told her she should have expected this:  Anyone who was interested in the Explorer's Guild was going to the other booths.  It wasn't that having multiple booths was a bad idea, but as she was manning the only one that wasn't being visited, it made the job extremely boring.

“Uh, excuse me?”

Kate nearly jumped out of her seat.  Standing, or rather floating, in front of the booth was what looked like a brown doll.  It waved its arms in front of it apologetically.”Ah!  Sorry!  I didn't mean to startle you!”

Kate quickly straightened herself up.  “Oh, uh, don't worry about it!  It's just, well, I've never seen a Baltoy before!”

The doll in question calmed down a bit before speaking again.  “Ah, well, that's understandable.  My name is Barclay.”

“Well, I'm Kate.  Are you here because you're interested in the Andaluust Explorer's Guild?”

Barclay made a gesture indicative of curiosity.  “You could say that.  It's not everyday you see this many new faces at once in these parts, after all.”

Kate shrugged.  “No, I suppose you don't.”  She took a deep breath before continuing.  “Well, as you've probably guessed, we're explorers first and foremost.  We look for new routes to help enable better trade to and from Andaluust City.  We also look for food sources and other resources.”

Barclay put an arm under his chin, apparently intrigued.  “Fascinating.  I imagine some of your work involves forging paths where there aren't any?”

Kate nodded.  “As a matter of fact, yes it does.  Only when necessary though.  We do as much as we can to preserve the natural environment in the process.”

“And do you by chance do construction in the course of your duties?”

“Uh, we do some.  If we're digging a tunnel, for example, we'll bring in support beams so nothing collapses on us.”

“Ah, that it seems I made the right choice!”

Kate cocked an eyebrow at him.  “Um, what do you mean?”

Barclay behind him before turning back to her.  “Pardon me, I kind of got ahead of myself.  You see, I've already recruited some of your guildmates for a little.....project, with permission from your guild leaders, of course.  Unfortunately, I have a bad habit of second-guessing myself and wanted to sure you were the ones for the job.”

Kate looked at him thoughtfully.  “Well, what kind of job is it?  I may be able to help once my shift here is over.”

“Oh, would you?  Well, my associates and I are trying to set up some supports for one of our mining tunnels, just a ways behind the Thirsty Cacturne.  If you could help.....”

Kate smiled.  “Of course I can!  I'll meet you and the others back there later!”

Barclay bobbed excitedly.  “Splendid!  I look forward to seeing you later, Princess!”

Kate blinked.  “Wh.....what did you call me?”

The Baltoy nearly crashed to the ground.  “E-er, apologies, miss Kate.  Lot on my mind.  See you soon!”  And with that he zipped away.

Kate sat there dumbfounded.  Did he just call me.....Princess?  She shook her head.  Oh, it doesn't matter.  He did seem a little stressed.  He must be desperate to keep that tunnel from collapsing.  And hey, at least now I have something to look forward to when I'm done here!

-

Evan groaned as he slowly sat up.  “Ow, so much for sand being soft.”  He rubbed his head and looked up to where he had fallen from, the large chunk of the ravine wall laying several yards from him.  Huh, guess I should count myself lucky it didn't all break apart.  Damn hallucination.  Does that mean I imagined that voice?  But why now?  What's here that cou- “AH!”

His thoughts were cut short by the pit he found himself looking down into, filled with numerous skeletons.  He quickly backed away.  Alright, forget the hallucinations for now.  I need to get out of here.

“Hey!  Anyone here?!”

Evan turned in the direction of the voice.  It was the same one he had heard before, meaning someone had to be in the ravine with him.  He cautiously followed it, taking care to stand on any flat rocks he encountered on the ravine floor, Hathor's warning playing back in his mind.

After only a few minutes, he came across a small crevice in the ravine wall.  Within it was nestled a drawstring sack.  Evan looked at it curiously.  What's this doing here?  He opened it and found a decent amount of small gemstones.  Woah, these are.....

“THEIF!!!”

Evan whirled around in time to dodge the small claw coming at his face.  He turned back around to find a Meowth huddled menacingly over the sack.  “You think these gems are just sitting here for anyone to take?!”  His voice brought some relief to Evan; it was the same voice he'd been hearing.  

The Zangoose got to his feet.  “Well, I can't think of any reason for there to be a random bag of loot just lying around at the bottom of a ravine.....”

The Meowth gave him an offended look.  “Loot?  LOOT?!  I'll have know that this is fine product!”

Evan groaned.  “Okay, okay, sorry.....wait, product?!  Are you one of the merchants that got lost down here a few days ago?”

The merchant closed his sack and slung it over his shoulder.  “Yes, I suppose I am.....wait, I'm not the only one?  Excellent!  Now the others can't say anything about I got stuck here!”

Wow, Evan thought.  Hathor wasn't kidding when she said these guys were idiots.  This guy's nuts!

The Meowth suddenly looked around worriedly.  “Hold on, am I to assume you've been sent to rescue us?”

Oh boy, here it comes.  “Well, I'm part of the group, yes.”

“But you down here by yourself, without any means of getting us back up?”

“The ravine kind of collapsed with me on it before I could call anyone over.”

The merchant leaned against the ravine wall.  “So after all that time I spent yelling at the top of my lungs, the one person who heard me ends up getting stuck with me with no way to get back up!”

Evan's ears perked up, an idea forming in his head.  “You know, you should be grateful I found you period.  Seeing as you're here by yourself, I'd say it would be unlikely we'd have come back for you here when everyone else is clearly elsewhere.”

The Meowth glared at him.  “What exactly are you implying?”

“I'm basically saying you're an idiot.”

“Oh, that's rich, coming from the one who did the EXACT SAME THING I DID!!!”

“Which would be what?”

“BEING FOOL ENOUGH TO GET STUCK HERE BY YOURSELF!!!”

“OH, SO YOU DOING IT DOESN'T MAKE YOU AN IDIOT?!”

“YOU'RE THE ONE WHO HAD TO COME DOWN BUT DIDN'T THINK ABOUT GETTING BACK UP!!!”  

“IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU I WOULDN'T HAVE NEEDED TO COME DOWN HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!”

“WHY YOU INSUFFERABLE-”

*THUNK*

Both Pokémon looked to see a grappling hook sitting a few feet from them.  The attached rope led up the ravine wall, where Evan could see Gavina looking down at them.  He turned back to the Meowth, a smug look on his face.  The merchant looked from the rope to his sack.  “How am I supposed to-”

Evan grabbed the bag and tied it to the hook, motioning for the Meowth to climb up, which he did.  When they were both safely out of the ravine with the gems, another Meowth approached them.  Without saying a word, she took the bag and led the merchant away by his ear.  Evan couldn't help but snicker at the sight.  

“You know, that wasn't exactly professional,” Gavina said, coming up next to him.

Evan shrugged.  “No, but it worked.”

The Hawlucha folded her arms.  “And how exactly did you end up down there with him?”

“To be honest, I think the ravine was using him as bait.  The wall caved under me when I went to see who was making such a fuss.”

Gavina sighed.  “Well, next time be more careful.  I'd rather not have to tell someone that something bad happened to their friend.”

Evan nodded.  “Right.  So, are we heading back now?”

“Why, passing up work for food?”

“Just asking,” Evan answered, looking forward to seeing his partner at the upcoming barbecue.